Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1887-01-15
New Year Soliloouv OF a Barber Pole.

"HhuS duu winter SHOWS OF nearly Il
half century. How well ! remember
that first bright morning the sun nodded
his CHEEKY greeting to me from his bed
room window over there in the east.
How my vain. foolish heart throbbcd
pit-a-pat as | felt his ardent chances
and foolishly supposed he smiled on me
alone.
Then, too, how happy | was when a
sunny-faced child. whose golden curls
played peek-a-boo with the sunshine,
tripped joyously by and patted me
right here on this bright spot, called
papa to see the pretty new barber
pole" Twas thus | first knew my
name; the sweet music of that child's
voice christened il with a euphony than
which to my ears there is none more
melodious.
Many were my friends in those care
free happy days. Right over there a
gnarled oak rustled sweet tales of prim-
tive times to my fond listening ears,
and Notwithstanding my plebian birth,
whispered words of friendship such as
he might TO kindred hearts whom ma
lures birthright had made his equal.
"Do not envy me, friend" he said one
day. II know it is pleasant to tower
here strong aad hardy above my con
temporaries; TO lay aside my dress of
green ut an appropriate season for a
garb of brighter hue. or to don my
regal robe Of silver garniture in honor
to old winters king, Jack Frost. And
pleasanter yet it is to nestle the birds
from storm and wind in my protecting
foliage, to cradle them to sleep at even
tide; to frolic with the playful breezes
or to feel the breath of some tender
plighted VOW waited up through my
spreading branches. Still my heart is
full of mourning for martyred brothers
and sisters, and | never hear the blow
of an axe that my very being thrills
with horror! The next morning on
awakening from an over long morning
nap | perceived an unusual excitement,
and turning, as was my wont when
perpleXed, to my friend the oak to ask
what it all meant, vas Mortified to see
two stalwart men mercilessly
lifting and burying their axes
again and again in his gu yering sides.
My whole being quivered for power of
speech to tell the crying shame. But |
was thus compelled in silence to see
friend after friend thus cruelty massa-
cred, and all the beautiful shrubs and
hillocks RACED to u dark, ugly level
above which these men laid long iron
rods and big timbers sort of cross
ways. Then, too, they built Il homely
queer shaped brown house, with a plat
form out in front.
How indignant ] was TO witness the
whole town turn out in holiday dress
one day after the labor had ceased, to
that ugly, horrid looking brown house.
my angry cogitations, however, were
cut short by a shrill, unearthly shrek
and the people bursting into u wild
prolonged cheer, waving hats and
handkerchiefs, shaking hands and act
ing like crazy generally, while
there hove in sight on the cross-bar
structure of iron and wood an immense
black monster. with one flaming eye in
the middle of his head and a body like
a thousand legged worm. The fright
was too much for me and | tainted.
How long | remained unconscious
do not know. but the first thing ! re-
member was n sweet familiar voice
saying, Il love the old barber pole,
James. 1t is among my earliest rec
objections of the city" On opening my
eyes beheld my little girl friend OF
that morning SO long ago, grown into
a beautiful young lady, to be sure,
But had seen her day after day and
had learned to watch for her coming
and going as a beacon light. That
day | noticed for the first time n swee'
peculiar dignity on the fair face and /
deeper light in her lustrous eyes thar
that from which had always befor,
welled 81 charming vlvacity. Her com
panion vas a fine, noble looking youth
one of those men against whom ! haC
set my heart-one of those creature
who only lived to have my maste
lather their face as they lolled in cush
toned chairs. or else to assasinat'
natures children. Thus thought o
them, but since she, whom | considered
my guardian angel, looked upon then
with favor, | concluded that 1t certain
ly behooved me to learn Of them. Ever
now | could hear this great handsom'
fellow. who walked by her side, talk Q
the railroad in such a that
thought | had heard the same word
UNDECIDED hundreds of times, | under
stood all in a minute what the cross
bars, the queer house, the huge mon
ster all meant.
From this time forth / spent many
an hour listening to and studying the
once much despised men. 1t was thus
| acquired II knowledge Of good En-
glish and good politics, though Nv,
heard some pretty bad things Of both.
1t made me sad, though, to be shu
out from friend after friend who haC
blessed my childhood hours, by th'
continuous scheming Of these men fol
more Improvement. | must confess
hovovor that mycalf hova orown 4,